calling you computer guys

[JGood]

I have this wierd problem. There is a blue dot in the middle of my screen. I run a dual moniter setup and it is only on the lower moniter (I have them stacked vertically). I am using Windows XP, and have upgraded to SP2 with no effect on this blue dot. And no, it is not effected by my wallpaper.

It changes shades of blue when I click it, doesn't matter whether left or right. It sometimes pops up overtop of open windows, simply clicking on the title bar of the open window sends it to the back. You cannot move it though.

I feel like a damn idiot because I have a bachelors degree in computer science and I don't know what to do. I didn't begin uninstalling/reinstalling software because I was hoping there was an easier solution.


Here's a pic, it's sittin on my fender haha...

And please don't photoshop my desktop, I'd really just like to get the problem solved ;-)

[td325ic]

Well, I don't know what other people would recommend but the first thing I would do is try and figure out whether it's own startup application (possibly spyware) or related to one of your currently running programs (such as AIM).

1) So open up MSconfig (Run prompt > msconfig)

2) Go to the startup tab and make a quick note of what startup items are checked or unchecked.

3) Go to the General tab and select "Selective Startup", then UNCHECK "Load Startup Items"

4) Apply, OK , then restart

5.) After restart, if the blue dot is gone then you know it was related to one of the startup items. Now it's just a matter of going through the process of elimination using msconfig and doing restarts until you can track down the offending startup item.

After restart, if the blue dot remains then I'd try creating a new temporary user account. Log into the account and see if the blue dot shows up in the new account.

If it still persists I'd run a few of the anti-spyware applications such as Ad-aware, spybot, etc.

You could run System File Checker from the commandline. (Run Prompt > CMD > SFC /scannow)

Running an anti-virus such as the TrendMicro's online "housecall" wouldn't hurt.

Hopefully you'll be able to track it down. If not, then I can come up with some more suggestions.

-Todd

[george graves]

If you have a few application open and "alt-tab" through them, can you bring it up to the top? If so it would sound like a app running that has shrunk it's own window down to about 5x5 pixels. I'd start with a healthy does of terminating programs in windows task manager...

But looking at your desktop I noticed something funny....

[td325ic]

I have this wierd problem. There is a blue dot in the middle of my screen. I run a dual moniter setup and it is only on the lower moniter (I have them stacked vertically). I am using Windows XP, and have upgraded to SP2 with no effect on this blue dot. And no, it is not effected by my wallpaper.

It changes shades of blue when I click it, doesn't matter whether left or right. It sometimes pops up overtop of open windows, simply clicking on the title bar of the open window sends it to the back. You cannot move it though.

I feel like a damn idiot because I have a bachelors degree in computer science and I don't know what to do. I didn't begin uninstalling/reinstalling software because I was hoping there was an easier solution.


Here's a pic, it's sittin on my fender haha...

And please don't photoshop my desktop, I'd really just like to get the problem solved ;-)

Ugh! I just noticed the files on your desktop.... you're into some sick shit ...

[george graves]

Ohhh - too slow my little friend...

[td325ic]

haha I guess George and I both went for the same joke :D

[td325ic]

Ohhh - too slow my little friend...

hey I was busy photoshopping that tubgirl pic

[JGood]

Thanks for all the help. I restarted with no startup programs selected, the blue dot was gone. I went through and checked a few items at a time for startup, and I got to the bottom of the list, restarted, and the blue dot was still gone.

I figure it was a fluke in one of my programs... I run old versions of almost everything.

I do run Ad-Aware every week or so, and watch my running processes for anything, so my computer stays free of most junk.

Thanks again!

[george graves]

No prolbem - now go delete that porn before your mom sees it.

[JGood]

she looks at it with me. it's only pics of your mom, nothing everyone hasn't seen before...

[td325ic]

Thanks for all the help. I restarted with no startup programs selected, the blue dot was gone. I went through and checked a few items at a time for startup, and I got to the bottom of the list, restarted, and the blue dot was still gone.

I figure it was a fluke in one of my programs... I run old versions of almost everything.

I do run Ad-Aware every week or so, and watch my running processes for anything, so my computer stays free of most junk.

Thanks again!

Cool, glad you got it fixed!

[george graves]

she looks at it with me. it's only pics of your mom, nothing everyone hasn't seen before...

zingger!

[xLibelle]

ive seen this before in my XP laptop too. was gone before i could figure it out but i strip my worktop down from any business related virus/firewall/action tracker/bs so i have no idea what it was.

i dont know how you guys can spend the time working with that nasty ass picture, long enough to make it an icon... and who really keeps that shit even for this purpose!! youre the weirdo, lol